SM U-97

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameU-97
Ordered15 September 1915
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number261
Laid down25 March 1916
Launched4 April 1917
Commissioned16 May 1917
FateSank 21 November 1918 en route to surrender
General characteristics [1]
Class and type Type U 93 submarine
Displacement
  • 837  t (824 long tons) surfaced
  • 998 t (982 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (o/a)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught3.94 m (12 ft 11 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,300  PS (1,692  kW; 2,269  shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.9 knots (31.3 km/h; 19.4 mph) surfaced
  • 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,290  nmi (15,350 km; 9,540 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 47 nmi (87 km; 54 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • 27 August 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Hugo Schmidt [2]
  • 15 May 1917 – 13 October 1917
  • Kptlt. Otto Wünsche [3]
  • 14 October 1917 – 12 January 1918
  • Kptlt. Hans von Mohl [4]
  • 13 January – 11 November 1918
Operations: 5 patrols
Victories:
  • 3 merchant ships sunk
    (622  GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (1,467  GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (4,785  GRT)

SM U-97 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-97 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. [5] The German unit sank by accident on her way to surrender at position 53°25′N3°10′E / 53.417°N 3.167°E / 53.417; 3.167 .

Contents

Design

Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-97 had a displacement of 838 tonnes (825 long tons) when at the surface and 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons) while submerged. [1] She had a total length of 71.55 m (234 ft 9 in), a pressure hull length of 56.05 m (183 ft 11 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 3.94 m (12 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,300 metric horsepower (1,700 kW; 2,300 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft). [1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph). [1] When submerged, she could operate for 47 nautical miles (87 km; 54 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,290 nautical miles (15,350 km; 9,540 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-97 was fitted with six 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers). [1]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [6]
22 November 1917 Conovium Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 86Sunk
22 November 1917 Elsena Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 335Sunk
22 November 1917 Hartland Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,785Damaged
11 February 1918 HMS Westphalia Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 1,467Sunk
2 June 1918 Argus Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 201Sunk

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hugo Schmidt". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Otto Wünsche (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hans von Mohl". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 97". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 97". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

Bibliography

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